MINNEAPOLIS — Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Thursday took an immediate swipe at Democratic nominee Barack Obama in her first solo campaign appearance since joining the GOP ticket. The Alaska governor also issued a fund-raising appeal that blamed the Democratic presidential ticket for spreading "misinformation and flat-out lies" about her family and her.
While the Obama campaign has raised questions about Palin's qualifications, Obama himself has said that her family should be off-limits.
Palin met with Republican governors Thursday and said afterward that leading a state means you have to make decisions and not just vote "present."
"We don't have a 'present' button as governor — we are expected to lead, we are expected to take action and not just vote 'present,'" said Palin, who is in her first term as Alaska's governor. "So there's a big difference, of course, between the executive and legislative branches and our experience."
Palin was referring to Obama's days in the Illinois Senate, when he voted "present" dozens of times among the thousands of votes he cast in his eight years there. The move is common among Illinois lawmakers, but has become a favorite Republican complaint about Obama.
The vice presidential candidate met with the governors on the morning after her speech to the Republican National Convention. In the days since her selection as John McCain's running mate was announced, questions have been raised about the 44-year-old governor's qualifications and experience, and it was revealed that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.
In a fundraising letter issued Thursday, she wrote that "the Obama-Biden Democrats have been vicious in their attacks directed toward me, my family and John McCain. The misinformation and flat-out lies must be corrected."
Palin said Thursday that she has "a big job cut out in front of me running for vice president."
"I intend to give this campaign all that I have to give," she said. "And I look forward to these 60-plus days on the trail. My family looks forward to this, we're up for it, we're excited about it."
She did not take questions from reporters.
Politics
September 4, 2008
Palin swings at Obama
- Politics
-
-
Romney’s tax data illustrates debate over fair rates
Mitt Romney reported owing $6.2 million in federal taxes on $42.5 million in income over the last two years, according to documents the Republican presidential contender’s campaign released Tuesday that play into the emerging debate over fairness in the tax code.
- White House: Obama seeks hike in domestic spending In twin strokes, President Barack Obama is calling on Congress to award generous budget increases to domestic programs while proposing relatively modest cuts to wasteful or obsolete programs that just won't seem to die.
- Credit card legislation nearing success Legislation to rein in credit card practices and eliminate sudden rate hikes and late fees that have entangled millions of Americans moved closer to becoming law Thursday, bolstered by presidential pressure and the backdrop of economic calamity.
- Congress adopts budget plan endorsing Obama goals Democrats in Congress capped President Barack Obama's 100th day in office by advancing a $3.4 trillion federal budget for next year — a third of it borrowed — that prevents Republicans from blocking his proposed trillion-dollar expansion of government-provided health care over the next decade.
- FACT CHECK: Obama disowns deficit he helped shape "That wasn't me," President Barack Obama said on his 100th day in office, disclaiming responsibility for the huge budget deficit waiting for him on Day One.
- Obama, Biden, welcome Specter to Democratic Party President Barack Obama on Wednesday hailed Arlen Specter's conversion to the Democratic Party, while Specter vowed that he'll be an asset as Obama tries to get his ambitious agenda through Congress.
- Specter says he's switching from GOP to Dems Veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania abruptly switched parties Tuesday, a move intended to boost his re-election chances that also pushed Democrats within one seat of a 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority.
- Anti-flu funding sufficient, White House says The White House said there's plenty of money in reserve to fight the spate of flu cases rapidly spreading around the country, but a leading congressman promised to add more, just in case.
- Obama administration expands housing aid plan The Obama administration is expected to announce Tuesday that it is expanding its plan to stem the housing crisis by offering mortgage lenders incentives to lower borrowers' bills on second mortgages.
- Iraq: U.S. raid 'crime' that breaks security pact Iraq's prime minister denounced a deadly U.S. raid on Sunday as a "crime" that violated the security pact with Washington and demanded American commanders hand over those responsible to face possible trial in Iraqi courts.
- More Politics Headlines
-
Romney’s tax data illustrates debate over fair rates
